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E NU w YB D mm CH m H R 0 N Ti RL B P I L a d 0 M 0 w No. 560,391. Patented May. 19, 1896.

NITED STATES? PATENT OFFICE RICHARD S. CHECKLEY, OF NElV YORK;

LIFE-LINE OR SAFETYDEVIC E.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 560,391, dated May 19, 1896.

Application filed January 11, 1896. Serial No. 575,130. (No model.)

.To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, RICHARD S. GHEOKLEY, of New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Life-Lines or Safety Devices; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to an improvement in life-lines or safety devices, the object being to provide a simple and inexpensive device for preventing the loss of life due to breakage of scaffolding, ladders, and platforms, as well as from fires and other casualties; and the invention consists in certain novel features of construction and combinations of parts, as will be hereinafter more fully described, and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a view of my improvement, and Fig. 2 is a view showing the position of thelife-line when weight is applied on the check or block.

A represents the check or block, preferably composed of two integral members a and b, the member a being shorter than the member I), and the two members being united at about an angle of twenty degrees. The short member of the check is provided with a hole c, which latter is preferably at right angles with the upper surface of the check or block, so that when said upper surface of the check or block is horizontal, or practically horizontal, the check or block will be free to slide on the life-line and thus permit of unrestricted move ment of the person to whom the check is attached. The long member Z) of the check or block A is also provided with a hole (Z for the attachment of ring B, which latter in turn supports the belt 0, said belt being of any desired construction.

The check or block A is movably mounted on the life line or rope d by passing the line or rope through the hole 0 and is held thereon by its own weight, as will be hereinafter set forth.

My invention is particularly designed for use by workmen of all trades who require the use of scaffolding, ladders, or who are required to work above the level of the ground.

The operation ofmy device is very simple and is a's follows One end'of a life line or rope D is fastened to 'asupport preferably independent of the s'caffolcbsupporting devices, so thatin the event of breakage of the scaffold or its supports the life-line would remain intact. The opposite end' thereof is passed through-hole c in the check or block from the upper side thereof and terminates on the ground or within easy reach thereof. The belt 0 is then fastened about the body of the workman and preferably under his arms, after which the check or block A is adjusted on the life line or rope to suit the convenience of the workman, who is then ready to perform his duties without the fear of accidents. Should the scaffolding or other supporting structure break or become disengaged from its attachments, the weight of the workman would be immediately thrown on the check or block,

which in turn would instantly cause that portion of line or rope D within hole 0 to bind against the upper and lower edges of the front and rear faces of said hole, respectively, or, in other words, the rope would buckle, as shown in Fig. 2, and prevent the descent of the check or block, thus holding the workman suspended. This position will be main tained until the weight of the workman is relieved from check or block A. This is accomplished by the workman grasping the life line or rope above the check or block and removing his weight therefrom, thereby allowing the check or block to descend by gravity. By repeating this operation or by lowering himself hand over hand the descent can be safely and quickly accomplished.

In order to allow the check or block A to fall by gravity, the workman must remove the weight sufficiently to raise himself enough to permit the check or block to assume a position whereby the side walls of hole 0 will be parallel, or practically parallel, with life line or rope D, because the weight of the check or block alone is sufficient to cause life line or rope D to bind in hole 0, and hence, as before stated, check or block A can be adjusted and retained in any desired position by its own weight.

In cases Where more than one workman is engaged on the same supporting structure a complete and separate device is provided for each, and hence each workman is protected by an independent device, which is a decided advantage over devices whereby the escape of one person is dependent upon another. Again, it frequently happens that work has been imperfectly done in a place or places and the imperfection is not noticed until the scaffold has been lowered. Thus in painting a front a portion of the cornice may be passed and the defect not noticed until the scaffold has been lowered beyond reaching distance. To again raise the scaffold would take c011- siderable time. Vith my device when an accident of this kind happens any one of the workmen can repair the work by climbing hand over hand to within reaching distance and then supporting himself by the device while at work, after which he can safely descend to the scaffold by grasping the rope above the check or block and lowering him self, as has been previously described.

\Vhen my device is used as a fire-escape, it is only necessary to cast the free end of life line or rope D toward the ground, after which the operation is similar to that already referred to.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A block or check consisting of a plate bent out of a straight line and provided with a hole at or near each end, one to receive a rope and a fastening device in the other for the attachment of the block or check to the body, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination with a block or check bent out of a straight line and having a hole therein at or near each end, of a rope passed through one hole, a ring in the other hole, and a belt or band passed through the ring, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

RICHARD S. (JIIEOKLEY...

lVitnesses:

B. DANDY DARKE, ARTHUR W. 'FnANcis. 

